Government to extend working holiday visa program amid application spike

The Morrison government says the increase in working holiday makers will support regional economies. Source: AAP

There has been a 20 per cent spike in working holiday-maker visa holders in the past year, with the government now eyeing off deals with more countries.

UpdatedUpdated 25/09/2019

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The number of working holiday-makers has soared by 20 per cent in the past year, with 43,000 young people scattered across regional centres.

The federal government expects the number to continue to rise as it pursues reciprocal visa agreements with 13 countries, to add to the existing 44 with deals in place.

"We know there are jobs in regional Australia that aren't being filled by Australian workers, and we are giving regional businesses the immigration settings to help them fill those roles," Immigration Minister David Coleman said on Wednesday.

And from July this year working holiday-maker visa holders who complete six months of regional work in their second year are eligible to stay in Australia for an additional year.

In November the government will introduce two new regional visas that will require applicants to live and work in a regional area for three years before being eligible to apply for permanent residency.

There will be 23,000 places dedicated to these regional visas.

A number of tailored migration agreements have also been put in place to address skills shortages in Orana (NSW), Warrnambool (Victoria), Kalgoorlie (WA), Cairns (Queensland), the Northern Territory and South Australia.